2010 Insects

[Axeman]

Summer is drawing to a close...I noticed this year that june bugs, fireflies and katydids have been absent -- and so far, praying mantids and walking sticks are absent too...wasn't a bad year for black flies (decreased numbers is defined as good) but mosquitoes seem to be pretty healthy...it was a banner year for earwigs but their seaon seems to be closing...and I can't help but notice a lot of monarchs this year.

Anyone else?

[MEGHAN]

I think we live on totally different planets   :lol:
I've see lots of June Bugs, Katydids. Loads of Praying Mantis. More Black Flies, Deer Flies and all other kinds of flesh removing Flies.
I seem to have noticed quite a lot of Cicadas this year. Hear them every year but this is the first year I have seen so many.
I agree, lots of Earwigs and great amounts of Monarchs

That's my input on this....
Who's next?
Meghan

[Sahria]

Seeing as I'm new and this is my first post, let me start by saying hello!

I have never seen as many cicadas as I have this year. Maybe one or two a year but this year in one outing alone I saw four and then quite a few shells stuck to trees. The June bugs were pretty slow for us here, but the mosquitoes and ticks are relentless. I've noticed more butterflies in the city as well, but not many Monarchs. I'm hoping to get out to Point Pelee this weekend to witness some of the migration activity.

[Bird Brain]

flesh removing Flies.

:lol:  Meg ... I love that description!

[MEGHAN]

flesh removing Flies.

:lol:  Meg ... I love that description!

Thanks Jo-Anne!!!

On a side note, but related....
Has anyone noticed a crazy amount of fire ants around.
It seems where ever I go lately, all I have to do is stand in one spot for about 1 minute and they are biting my ankles and swarming up my legs.
Ouch, they bloody burn.
Are there more this year, or am I just out more then I was last summer?
Meghan

[Howieh]

Meghan, you just have to stop going barefoot on your bird walks!! Btw,  guess I've been lucky because I've been to the spit and to Humber Bay East many times (usually in shorts!) and I've never encountered them - been warned a few times tho!

[MEGHAN]

Meghan, you just have to stop going barefoot on your bird walks!!

 :lol:  Thanks, I'll keep that in mind  :lol:



[/quote] Btw,  guess I've been lucky because I've been to the spit and to Humber Bay East many times (usually in shorts!) and I've never encountered them - been warned a few times tho![/quote]

Humber Bay is crawling with fire ants, you are lucky for sure.
Meghan

[Howieh]

Yeah, I know the north side of the stream in Humber Bay East Park has lots of them. Have they been reported on the spit?

Incidentally, with a much cooler weekend coming up this could be a good time for a Monarch roost at the eastern end of Humber Bay East P; I would certainly appreciate hearing from anyone who encounters a cluster of monarchs anywhere in the city.

[ravynne40]

yes humber bay is full of fire ants, I have been bitten several times, not just on the legs. but on my neck my back(where i could not reach) so i leaned up against a tree like a bear and did the back rub.they do hurt like hell tho
they get in under your clothing and they are fast..
muskol...that's my answer...

Irene

[Brian Bailey]

I think the number of insects is highly dependent on location this year.  I have found mosquito numbers to be pretty low this year everywhere I've been with the notable exception of where I was staying on Manitoulin Island in late July.  They only came out at night, but they were really awful.  It felt more like late May than late July.

I've also found deer flies and horse flies to be less of a problem this year.  I have no idea why, but I'm not complaining!

BB